Two-piece vanity top

ABSTRACT

The two-piece vanity top includes a granite top piece having a sink opening. A sink member having a flange is joined to an undersurface of the granite top piece to align with the sink opening. The sink flange thus extends along the undersurface of the top piece. A plurality of clamping assemblies are bonded to the undersurface of the top-piece without penetrating the top-piece and without threading any fasteners into the granite surface. Each of the clamping assemblies includes an adjustable clamping member that is engageable with the sink flange to force the sink flange against the undersurface of the top-piece.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to bathroom or kitchen vanities and moreparticularly to a two-piece top for a vanity, including a granite toppiece.

[0002] A bathroom or kitchen vanity usually includes a cabinet and avanity top. Some vanity tops, known as two-piece vanity tops, include acountertop or top piece with a separate wash bowl or sink. The vanitytop piece can be formed of plastic or other known waterproof or waterresistant material, or a combination of non-waterproof and waterproofmaterial such as wood having an outside layer of plastic material.

[0003] The vanity cabinet often has an interior storage space that isaccessible by one or more door members. The cabinet can also include oneor more drawers above, below, beside or inside the door members. Thevanity cabinet in comparison with the two-piece vanity top can be formedof numerous different materials that need not be waterproof or waterresistant. Because vanity cabinets can be formed of materials that neednot be waterproof or water resistant they can generally have a moreversatile appearance than the two-piece vanity top, and are constructedwith more detailed and varied designs than the vanity top.

[0004] The present invention is intended to provide added design andappearance versatility to a two-piece vanity top by combining aseparately formed wash bowl or sink with a top piece that is made of astone material such as granite.

[0005] A granite top piece with a finished top surface is known to havean elegant, attractive appearance. A sink that is overmounted orsupported on the finished granite surface can diminish theattractiveness of the granite top piece. Thus it would be beneficial toundermount the sink, or support the sink on an undersurface of thegranite top piece, to enhance the elegant appearance of the finishedgranite top surface.

[0006] However, it is also well known that granite, while very durableand attractive, is also a very hard material. It is thus difficult touse threaded fasteners with granite because such fasteners do not threadeasily or securely into granite. If threaded fasteners are provided indrilled holes in the granite there is a risk of fracturing the granite.Since fasteners threaded into the undersurface of a granite top piececan fracture the granite if overtightened and cannot provide adequatesecurement if insufficiently tightened there is very little margin fortightening error.

[0007] Also, if a plural number of fasteners are inserted in theundersurface of a granite top piece to secure an undermounted sink suchfasteners must support the weight of the sink plus the weight of anywater in the sink, a risky proposition. While screw-in attachmentsystems for undermounted sinks may be acceptable with a woodencountertop, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,276,719 to Campbell and U.S.Pat. No. 2,080,573 to Madsen such screw-in systems for undermountedsinks in granite are not always steadfast.

[0008] It is thus desirable to provide a relatively risk free securementsystem for a two-piece vanity top including a granite top piece whereina sink can be undermounted with firmness and stability to theundersurface of the granite top.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] In the accompanying drawings,

[0010]FIG. 1 is a bottom view of a granite top piece for a two-piecevanity top, prior to the installation of a sink and any plumbingattachments;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view, in schematic form, of the granitetop-piece, after a sink has been installed to the bottom surface orundersurface of the granite top piece to form the two-piece vanity top;

[0012]FIG. 3 is an elevational upside down exploded view thereof, partlyshown in section, before securement of the sink to the undersurface ofthe granite top piece; and,

[0013]FIG. 4 is an elevational view thereof, right side up, after thesink has been secured to the undersurface of the granite top piece.

[0014] Corresponding reference numbers indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Referring to the drawings, a two-piece vanity top incorporatingone embodiment of the invention is generally indicated by the referencenumber 10 in FIGS. 2-4. The two-piece vanity top 10 includes a washbowlor sink member 12, and a granite top piece 14. As used herein the term“two-piece vanity top” will refer to the combined sink member 12 and thegranite top piece 14, without any plumbing. The sink member 12 is formedseparately from the granite top piece 14 and is made of a suitable knownmaterial such as porcelain, plastic or any other suitable vitreouswaterproof material, and is joined to the bottom surface or undersurface16 of the granite top piece 14.

[0016] The granite top piece 14 also includes a top surface 18 (FIGS. 3and 4) and a sink opening 20 with a peripheral edge 26. The granite topsurface 18 has a fine, smooth finish, which emphasizes the attractivecolor and grain characteristics of the granite material. The graniteundersurface 16 need not be polished or finished.

[0017] The sink member 12 has a water-receiving bowl 28 (FIGS. 3 and 4)with a top portion 30 and a sink flange 32 that extends outwardly fromthe top portion 30 and away from the water-receiving bowl 28. As mostclearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the water-receiving bowl 28 is alignedwith the sink opening 20 when the sink member 12 is joined to thegranite top piece 14.

[0018] In assembling the sink member 12 to the granite top piece 14, useof a worktable 34 (FIG. 3) with a soft surface, such as provided by apiece of carpet material or corrugated cardboard 36, can facilitate suchassembly. The top piece 14 is positioned on the soft surface 36 with thegranite undersurface 16 facing upwards.

[0019] The sink member 14 is placed in an upside-down position, as shownin FIG. 3, onto the undersurface 16 of the granite top piece 14 suchthat the water receiving bowl 28 and the sink opening 20 are aligned.The sink flange 32 of the sink member 12 will thus extend beyond theperipheral edge 26 of the sink opening 20 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0020] When the sink member 12 is aligned with the sink opening 20, asshown in FIG. 3, a guideline 42 (FIG. 1) is drawn around the peripheryof the sink flange 32 on the undersurface 16 of the granite top piece14, using a crayon (not shown) or any other suitable marking implement.The guideline 42 serves as a border for the application of a bead 44(FIGS. 1 and 3) of a suitable known sink flange sealer such as silicone.After the guideline 42 (FIG. 1) is drawn on the undersurface 16 of thegranite top piece 14 the sink member 12 is temporarily removed from thegranite top piece 14, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0021] The bead 44 (FIG. 1) of silicone sealer is applied to theundersurface 16 of the top piece 14 partway between the guideline 42 andthe peripheral edge 26 of the sink opening 20 in the manner shown inFIG. 1. The sink member 12 is then relocated in upside down position, asshown in FIG. 3, onto the undersurface 16 of the top piece 14 in thesame relative orientation of the sink member 12 to the sink opening 20that existed when the guideline 42 was drawn.

[0022] The sink flange 32 of the sink member 12 thus overlays thesilicone bead 44. Pressure of the sink flange 32 against the bead 44spreads the bead 44 (FIG. 4) between the sink flange 32 and theundersurface 16 to establish a leak tight seal between the undersurface16 of the granite top piece 14 and the sink flange 32 of the sink member12.

[0023] While the silicone bead 44 is curing, or after it has cured thesink member 12 is secured to the undersurface 16 of the top piece 14using a clamping assembly 46 as shown in FIGS. 2-4.

[0024] Preferably four of the clamping assemblies 46 are provided at“corner” locations of the sink member 12, at positions such as 48, 50,52 and 54 as shown in FIG. 1. The clamping assembly positions 48, 50, 52and 54 are slightly outside the outer edge 62 of the sink flange 32 andapproximately align with diagonals (not shown) of the granite top piece14.

[0025] Each clamping assembly 46 (FIG. 3) includes a threaded stud orstem portion 64 having one end that is welded or otherwise joined to abase plate or base section 66. The base section 66 is preferably aperforated metal plate approximately one inch round or square. Theclamping assembly 46 further includes a metal clip member or clampingmember 68 with a slotted portion 70 (FIG. 2) to accommodate the stemportion 64. The slot 70 permits positional adjustability of the clipmember 68 on the stem portion 64. The clip member 68 is formed with astepped offset portion 72 (FIG. 3) for overlying the sink flange 32. Awing nut 74 is threaded onto a free end 82 of the stem portion 64.

[0026] The base section 66 of each clamping assembly 46 is adhered tothe undersurface 16 of the top piece 14 with any suitable known highstrength epoxy adhesive 84 at the clamping positions 48, 50, 52 and 54.

[0027] When the epoxy adhesive 84 between the base sections 66 and theundersurface 16 at the positions 48, 50, 52 and 54 has cured, wing nuts74 can be threaded against the slotted portions 70 of the clip members68 to force the stepped offset portion 72 against the sink flange 32 inthe manner shown in FIG. 3.

[0028] It will be noted that the offset height of the stepped portion 72is approximately one half the height or thickness of the sink flange 32.This height difference ensures that the clip member 68 does not fullybottom against the base section 66 when the wing nut 74 forces the clipmember 68 against the sink flange 32. Under this arrangement the clipmember 68, in a tightened condition against the sink flange 32, makes aslight angle 86 (FIG. 3) with respect to the base section 66. The angle86 exists even when the clip member 68 is in a fully tightenedcondition.

[0029] Thus any movement of the wig nut 74 on the stem portion 64against the clip member 68 will increase the force of the clip member 68against the sink flange 32. Accurate torquing of the wing nut 74 canthus be accomplished to provide a predetermined force of the clip member68 against the sink flange 32.

[0030] After the wing nuts 74 of each clamping assembly 46 have beentightened against the respective clip members 68 to secure the sinkmember 12 to the top piece 14 at the positions 48, 50, 52 and 54 thetwo-piece vanity top 10 can be turned right side up, as shown in FIG. 4and joined to an appropriate vanity cabinet 88 (FIG. 4) in any suitableknown manner.

[0031] Assembly of the granite top piece 14 and sink member 12 can beaccomplished at a factory to enable the consumer to buy an assembledtwo-piece vanity top, or assembly of the two-piece vanity top can beperformed by the consumer.

[0032] Although not shown, a backsplash and side splashes can be joined,if desired, to the top surface 18 of the top piece 14 in any suitableknown manner. The backsplash and side splashes are preferably formed ofthe same granite material as the top piece 14.

[0033] Plumbing accessories including a faucet and drain pipe (notshown) are then installed on the two-piece vanity top in any suitableknown manner.

[0034] The invention thus provides a novel securement system for atwo-piece vanity top wherein a sink is undermounted to a granitetop-piece, without threading fasteners into the granite undersurface.Such securement system makes it feasible to undermount the sink to thegranite top piece and thereby enhance the attractive elegant appearanceof the vanity top.

[0035] In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects ofthe invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

[0036] As various changes can be made in the above constructions andmethods without departing from the scope of the invention, it isintended that all matter contained in the above description or shown inthe accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and notin a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vanity top comprising, a) a granite top piecehaving a sink opening with a peripheral edge, said top piece including atop surface and an undersurface, b) a sink member having a waterreceiving bowl with a top portion and a sink flange that extendsoutwardly from the top portion and away from the water receiving bowl,said sink member being joined to the undersurface of said top piece suchthat said sink flange extends outwardly beyond the peripheral edge ofthe sink opening in said top piece along the undersurface of said toppiece, said sink flange having an outer edge, an upper surface and alower surface, and c) means for joining said sink member to theundersurface of said top piece such that the water receiving bowl alignswith the sink opening in said top piece, said joining means including aplurality of clamping assemblies located at selected positions aroundthe top portion of said sink member, said clamping assemblies beingbonded to the undersurface of said top piece without penetrating the toppiece, and said clamping assemblies are spaced from the outer edge ofsaid sink flange such that each said clamping assembly is engagable withthe lower surface of said sink flange to force said sink flange againstthe undersurface of said top piece, whereby said sink member is heldagainst and joined to the undersurface of said top piece.
 2. The vanitytop as claimed in claim 1 wherein the clamping assembly includes anadjustable clip member and means for moving the adjustable clip memberagainst the lower surface of said sink flange, to forcibly engage saidsink flange, said clamping assembly being positioned on the undersurfaceof said top piece such that said clip member overlays the lower surfaceof said sink flange whereby movement of said adjustable clip memberagainst the lower surface of said sink flange enables said clip memberto exert a force against said sink flange that clamps said sink flangeagainst the undersurface of said top piece.
 3. The vanity top as claimedin claim 2 wherein the clamping assembly further includes a stem portionengagable with the clip member.
 4. The vanity top as claimed in claim 3wherein the stem portion is threaded and the means for moving the clipmember against the lower surface of the sink flange include a threadednut member movable on the stem portion toward the lower surface of saidsink flange to urge the clip member against the lower surface of saidsink flange.
 5. The vanity top as claimed in claim 3 wherein the stemportion includes a base section that is bonded to the undersurface ofsaid top piece, proximate the outer edge of said sink flange, to permitsaid clip member, when engaged with said stem portion, to overlie thelower surface of said flange.
 6. The vanity top as claimed in claim 4wherein the stem portion includes a base section that is bonded to theundersurface of said top piece, proximate the outer edge of said sinkflange to permit said clip member, when engaged with said stem portion,to overlie the lower surface of said sink flange.
 7. The vanity top asclaimed in claim 1 wherein the clamping assembly includes a stem portionhaving a base section bonded to the undersurface of said top piece, anda clip member is engageable with the stem portion, said base sectionbeing positioned on the undersurface of said top piece proximate theouter edge of said sink flange to permit said clip member, when engagedwith said stem portion, to overlie the lower surface of said sinkflange.
 8. The vanity top as claimed in claim 7 wherein the stem portionis threaded and a nut member is threaded on the stem portion, the clipmember being positioned between the nut member and the base section suchthat movement of the nut member on the stem portion toward the lowersurface of said sink flange, urges the clip member against the lowersurface of the sink flange.
 9. The vanity top as claimed in claim 2wherein the adjustable clip member includes a stepped offset portionthat overlies the lower surface of said sink flange.
 10. The vanity topas claimed in claim 9 wherein the clamping assembly includes a basesection bonded to the undersurface of said top piece and the sink flangehas a first height or thickness, and the stepped offset portion has aheight that is less than the sink flange thickness to enable theadjustable clip member to form an angle with the base section when theclip member is in a tightened condition against the sink flange.
 11. Avanity top comprising, a) a granite top piece having a sink opening witha peripheral edge, said top piece including a top surface and anundersurface, b) a sink member having a water receiving bowl with a topportion and a sink flange that extends outwardly from the top portionand away from the water receiving bowl, said sink member being joined tothe undersurface of said top piece such that said sink flange extendsoutwardly beyond the peripheral edge of the sink opening in said toppiece along the undersurface of said top piece, said sink flange havingan outer edge, an upper surface and a lower surface, and c) means forjoining said sink member to the undersurface of said top piece such thatthe water receiving bowl aligns with the sink opening in said top piece,said joining means being bonded to the undersurface of said top pieceproximate the outer edge of said sink flange without penetrating the toppiece, and said joining means including at least two spaced clampingmembers engagable against the lower surface of said sink flange to forcesaid sink flange against the undersurface of said top piece, wherebysaid sink member is clamped to the undersurface of said top piece. 12.The vanity top as claimed in claim 11 wherein the joining means includesa stem portion having a base section bonded to the undersurface of saidtop piece, proximate the outer edge of said sink flange, to permit saidclamping member to overlie the lower surface of said sink flange. 13.The vanity top as claimed in claim 12 wherein the stem portion isthreaded and a threaded nut member is movable on the stem portion towardthe lower surface of said sink flange to urge the clamping memberagainst the lower surface of said sink flange.
 14. The vanity top asclaimed in claim 12 wherein the sink flange has a first height orthickness, and the clamping members have a stepped offset portion with aheight that is less than the sink flange thickness to enable theclamping members to form an angle with the base section when theclamping members are in a tightened condition against the sink flange.15. A method of making a vanity top, comprising, a) forming a granitetop piece with a sink opening having a peripheral edge, a top surfaceand an undersurface, b) providing a sink member having a water-receivingbowl and a top portion with a sink flange having an upper surface, alower surface and an outer edge, c) positioning the sink member at theundersurface of the top piece such that the sink flange extendsoutwardly beyond the peripheral edge of the sink opening along theundersurface of the top piece, d) joining the sink member to the toppiece by, (i) bonding a plurality of threaded stem pieces to theundersurface of the top piece in spaced arrangement around the topportion of the sink member such that a free end of the threaded stempieces project away from the undersurface of the top piece, and are aselected distance from the outer edge of the sink flange and do notpenetrate the top piece, (ii) providing each stem piece with anelongated clamping member that fits onto the stem piece via an openingin the clamping member, (iii) arranging the clamping member while on thestem piece, to overlie the lower surface of the sink flange, (iv)threading a nut onto the stem piece for tightening against the clampingmember to force the clamping member against the lower surface of thesink flange to thereby clamp the sink flange against the undersurface ofthe top piece and secure the sink to the top piece.
 16. The method ofclaim 15 wherein the bonding step includes providing the stem piece witha base section, and bonding the base section to the undersurface of thetop piece.
 17. The method of claim 15 including forming the clampingmember with a stepped portion to overlie the lower surface of the sinkflange.
 18. The method of claim 16 including forming the clamping memberwith a stepped portion having a height or offset that is less than thesink flange thickness to enable the clamping member to form an anglewith the base section when the clamping member is in a tightenedcondition against the sink flange.
 19. The method of claim 15 includingproviding the undersurface of the top piece with four stem pieces andflour clamping members.